ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

National MP Paul Foster-Bell to step down from Parliament

Author
Gia Garrick,
Publish Date
Mon, 27 Feb 2017, 5:39AM
First-term list MP Paul Foster-Bell has confirmed he will leave Parliament at September's general election after a challenge to remain National's Wellington Central candidate (Mark Mitchell).
First-term list MP Paul Foster-Bell has confirmed he will leave Parliament at September's general election after a challenge to remain National's Wellington Central candidate (Mark Mitchell).

National MP Paul Foster-Bell to step down from Parliament

Author
Gia Garrick,
Publish Date
Mon, 27 Feb 2017, 5:39AM

UPDATED 12.31pm Paul Foster-Bell has become the 11th MP to step down from the National Party ahead of this year's election.

That's nearly a fifth of the caucus.

Mr Foster-Bell has campaigned for Wellington Central for the past two elections losing both times to Labour's Grant Robertson.

"I thought it was appropriate for me to step aside and to endorse the new candidate, who I think will be a really strong candidate for our area."

It's understood former senior advisor to John Key, Nicola Willis is keen to be National's Wellington Central candidate.

Mr Foster-Bell said it was absolutely his decision to do so.

"This wasn't the time for a potentially divisive internal contest when the government needs to focused on what really matters to New Zealand."

Mr Robertson's stirring the pot over news his main rival at the last two elections is bowing out.

However, Mr Robertson told Tim Fookes he thinks Mr Foster Bell's the victim of a reshuffle.

He said there are internal things in the National Party about who is going to get selected to run in Wellington Central and Paul has fallen on the wrong side of that which is a real pity for him.

Labour's leader Andrew Little  is surprised to hear Mr Foster-Bell is stepping down from the National Party.

Mr Little said the fact a politician as young as Mr Foster-Bell has stepped aside, suggests there's more to this than meets the eye.

He said he's aware of the fact Mr Foster-Bell had a high turnover of staff in Parliament, with 12 employees leaving under his watch.

Mr Little said he's young chap and having the responsibility of staff can sometimes be tricky and it's hard to know exactly what did it.

But he said National can pick and choose who they want, and this suggests there's something more seriously wrong.

 

 

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you